The students in Mrs. Man and Mrs. Dinius’ middle school social studies classes took a field trip to the historical Pearl Harbor this month for a hands-on learning experience of what happens during war. The excursion was part of International Peace Week to help the students gain a true understanding of the significance of war on our country and the world.

Once the group arrived at the Pacific Monument Park, they were met and hosted by a volunteer educator who provided a personal tour of the USS Arizona Memorial facility. The tour began with the viewing of a 24-minute documentary film showcasing the significance of the attack and launch of World War II.

Next, they boarded a Navy boat for a solemn ride out to the memorial. There, the students spent time observing, understanding and honoring the 1,177 crewmen killed on the day of infamy, December 7, 1941. The USS Arizona Memorial is built over the remains of the sunken battleship USS Arizona, the final resting place for the crewmen killed.

After their visit to the memorial, the tour guide also hosted a question and answer session for the students.

Eighth grader, Charlotte Harris shared her thoughts, “The museum was full of artifacts and model ships that were a part of the WWII. The items were no longer visual images in our class discussions, rather hard pieces of the evidence from the impact of war."

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